Watch bracelet



May 7, 1929.

H. O. BIGNEY WATCH BRACELET Filed Oct. l5, 1926 Mery Patent vMay i7.I1929.

n'ran sit/Aras PATENT OFFICE.

WATCH BRACELET.

Application filed October 13, 1926. Serial No. 141,315.

My invention relates to watch bracelets.

'lhe essential objects of my invention are to afford such a degree 'ofelasticity or eX- pansibility as to accommodate .the bracelet to wristsof varying sizes; to enable the bracelet to be entirely withdrawn fromthe wrist over the hand without disengaging the bracen lot from theWatch, notwithstanding the fact that the limit of elasticity of thebracelet does not permit a suiiicient enlargement oit the bracelet forthis purpose; and to attain these results in a simple and inexpensivestructure.

rlo the above ends primarily my invention consists in such parts and insuch combinations of parts as fall within the scope ot the appendedclaims.

ln the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specificationFigure 1 is a side elevation ot-my bracelet engaged with a watch, and inclosed or locked position,

Figure "2 a vertical section of the same, showing the watch in sideelevation,

Figure 3., a front elevation, partially fragmentary, ot same expanded,and

Figure ll, a fragmentary plan view of the bracelet in locked position.

Like reference characters indicate like arts throughout the views.

My bracelet comprises two longitudinally curved or substantiallysemielliptical hollow segments 6 formed from bent lengths ot tubularstock composed preferably ot precious metal or plated with preciousmetal, and O any preferred cross sectional contour.

1n normal, closed, or locked position the inner adjacent ends 7 of thesegments are contiguous with each other, while the vouter ends 8 of thesegments are interspaced to accommodate therebetween the usual watch 10with its lateral attaching loop portions 11.

Detachable attaching mein ers are provided comprising shanks 13 slidablymounted in the outer ends of the segments, and broad slightl lattenedterminal hooks 14. engaging the loops 11 of the watch 10. Theseattaching or hook members are retained by helical springs 16 eachattached at one end to a shank 1 3, and at its other end to anintermediate portion or the segment in any manner, such for instancebysolder 17 A slide or guide strip 19 of thin resilient metal is`slidable in the inner ends Z of the segments 6. lt has bent ends formingshoulders 2O adapted, when the segments are expanded, to abut againstinternal indent stop projections 21 near the extremities ot the ends 7Equidiswhose central portion is a lug 25 constituting' a thumb piece. Ateach side of the lug 25 are shoulders 26 upon the bridge, having in thisinstance their outer sides 27 inclined or rounded, and their oppositesides 28 adjacent the lug 25 vertical and relatively acute. Cavities 30in the inner ends of the segments ac commodate the lug 25 which projectstherethrough when the bracelet is closed. In closed position theshoulders 26 register in openings 32 in the segment ends 7.

In order to apply the bracelet to the wrist the parts are in thepositions shown in Figure 3 and in broken lines in Figure 2, whichaffords a suliciently ample opening to admit the hand to be thrusttherethrough, after which the ends 7 of the segments are manually pushedtogether and the shoulders snap into the openings 32 to fix the partsupon the wrist. To release the bracelet the lug 25 is downwardly pressedby the operators thumb or nail to depress the shoulders 26 from theirseats 32 which permits the segments to separate and swing upon the hooks14' as pivots.

It will thus be seen that in order to remove the bracelet from the wristit is not necessary to attempt to unhook the watch, a feat which is verydifficult to perform, particularly with one hand. 1t will be furthernoted that the resiliency alforded by the springs 16 enables thebracelet to comfortably adapt itself to wrists of 4various sizes.

1. In a watch bracelet wherein there are relatively movable tubularsegments, the combination with such segments, of a resilient guide striptelescopng the adjacent inner ends ofv such segments and having its endsprovided with shoulders, and a resilient depressible bridge with a lugnear its mid length and shoulders upon opposite sides of said 2. Awatchbracelet according to claim 1in lug, the adjacent ends of said segmentshavwhich the segments have internal indent stop ing openings to receivesaid 1u the shoulprojections to cooperate with said shoulders 10 ders ofthe guide strip engagea le with the of the stripn 5 segments and the lugand shoulders of the In testimony whereof I have affixed my bridgeengageable in said openings in the signature'li segment ends. HAROLD O.BIGNEY.

